The Alhambra, located in the Andalucían city of Granada, was once home to the ruling Emirs in Spain, and it was for them most of the Moorish-style additions were made. The flourishes, arches and curves inspired by Arabic writing influence every structure and space; Islamic architecture at its best.
Glimmering before me, water seems to dance along the path like fireflies fluttering in the evening twilight. Light forces its way through arches creating reflections of their casted shadows. I am caught in a trance, transfixed by this unique architecture surrounding me; Moorish influenced with splashes of Spanish styles throughout.
Tucked away among the trees of Holaved forest in southern Sweden is a totally off-the-grid eco retreat designed to encourage residents to reconnect with nature. Hand-crafted wooden cabins with grass-covered rooves blend into the natural surroundings. An ‘air castle’ hides within the towering evergreen’s spindly branches, and a wonderful treehouse provides a whimsical treat for solo travellers.
In Italy, it has become popular to seek out farm stay accommodation. It doesn’t mean you have to get up at the crack of dawn to help feed the cows or pound the butter – although, no doubt your hosts would love it if you do!
For the Italian government, the much-publicized crash of the Costa Concordia cruise ship was just the tip of the iceberg of the long-term damage done by cruise ships in Italian waters each year.
Tucked away in the rural town of Frome, England is the Garden Café, a vegetarian restaurant that offers customers only the freshest local produce, grown using ethical, eco-friendly techniques.
Set on the outskirts of the small Swedish village of Harads is a scene not unlike something from a 1950’s B movie. Shimmering glimpses of UFO style constructions trick passers-by into believing aliens have finally landed. Splashes of colour and light dance among the branches on the edge of the boreal forest; buildings seem to appear and disappear with every glance.
The River Cottage brand has become known in organic circles as a pioneer of the ‘grow your own’ movement. The practises adopted at River Cottage have been so successful that the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has awarded the business the highest award possible, making it the most sustainable restaurant in the UK.
Crop circles are so last season. If you want to see something really interesting in the green fields of England in the coming years then you’ll need to head to the little known area of Northumberland in the United Kingdom.
